Climbing the tree

In Year 5, Kayleigh got into the habit of climbing a tree on the way home from school. Natassja and their friend Alexandra would clamber up into this tree and see how far up, or across the branches they could get. Kayleigh, being her normal self would climb up to the top of the tree until the branches were too thin to support her.

To get into the tree, sometimes they would give each other a push up the truck until they could reach to lower branch and then Kayleigh decided to try another method. This tree, at that time has branches the were closer to the ground because of it's position near an underpass, with the steep sides of the ground where it goes up to the shops and the road level. Kayleigh located a suitable branch, that required her to jump up and grasp one of the twigs, and then pull the branch down until she could hold onto a thicker part. Kayleigh then jumped and swung and 'monkey walked' one hand over the other until the branch was thick enough for her to swing her legs up and around the branch. From there she pulled herself over until she was the right way up. Kayleigh, Natassja and Alexandra climbed that tree ever day while the parents stood around at the base chatting. When it was time to go, Kayleigh then climbed out on the other side of the tree, grabbed the branch she was standing on and then swung herself down. There was normally about 1 to 1 1/2 metres between herself and the ground but she let go of the branch without fear. Mind you she was landing on rather uneven ground but it never worried her and she never hurt herself. Kayleigh really had no fear when climbing that tree and I will always remember the happiness on her face as she stood at the top, the tallest thing around.

Image Kayleigh at the top in her rainbow jumper.
Note that they have now cut the lower branches off :( Spoil sports.